762 A SINGING HESPEROMYS. 
Albeit the miserable end of poor Mus musculus, we are bold to 
declare our knowledge of the existence of singing mice of the 
above domestic sort; and farther, our belief that they are not 
very uncommon. But we now propose to introduce to the readers 
of the Naruraxisr an aristocratic, and entirely new candidate for 
their consideration—a musical wood-mouse. 
Last spring, my friend Philip Ryall, Esq., brought from Florida 
a mouse which he had captured in his residence there. He 
says that for a number of nights, a low sound of a more or less 
musical nature, had been heard proceeding, as was supposed, from 
the chimney, and which very naturally was attributed to the chim- 
ney swallow. One day a small mouse came from under the hearth 
into the middle of the floor of the sitting-room, sat up, and sang 
for about a minute, and retired. This explained the mystery. Its 
nightly music and its daily visit were continued, almost invariably, 
the visit being limited to the same small area of the floor. It was 
determined to capture the little stranger ; which after many unsuc- 
cessful efforts was finally accomplished. Last June the interesting 
little fellow was very kindly passed into my custody. My first 
concern was to add to its comfort by enlarging its cage, also to 
provide for it in every possible way a condition of things suited to 
its nature. For all this I was amply rewarded in the fine health, 
and the musical performances that followed. 
A little study soon determined that the pretty creature belonged 
to the vesper mice. It is known by the popular names of jumping 
mouse, wood mouse, and white-footed mouse. Our specimen is one 
of the smallest of its own genus, for the precise species is the one 
known to naturalists as the Hesperomys cognatus Leconte. This 
fact, so novel, once determined, gave additional zest to my purpose 
to make it the object of especial study. To give it individuality, 
as it was fast becoming a pet, I named it Hespie ; which name, as 
its object was a female, was certainly appropriate. I thought she 
soon learned to know me, and certainly I soon came to regard her 
with attachment. Yet, the truth told, she was a pretty, pert and 
unamiable little miss, and would permit no familiarity, always bit- 
ing the finger that attempted to touch her. Her animation, agility 
and gracefulness of motion were wonderful. Sometimes a fly would 
enter the cage, when she would spring at, and catch it, sometimes 
with her mouth, and at others with her hands. This she would eat 
with great relish. So uniformly quick were her motions, that on 
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TETEN 
